Kids, The Yuck, and How To Stay Healthy!!!

This past week at the Ponderosa, we had the yuck. The gross, congested, foggy headed yuck.

It got me thinking of all the kids and all the germs that are out there, just waiting to give the yuck to me. (For the record, I don’t want it ever-ever again!!)

Since I had some time on my hands, I did a little research about kids, their yuck, and the best ways to stay healthy. Oh boy do I have some things to share with you!!!

Beginning with the fact, that 22 million sick days are taken each year due to the common cold alone. The average American child comes down with 6-10 colds a year and we all know they don’t keep those things to themselves, ever. Whenever one family member gets they yuck, somehow it always seems to trickle through the entire family.

Part of the reason that our kids play the part of “patient 0” so many times throughout the year, is the fact that their little immune systems are not as clearly developed, as those of adults, so it makes them more susceptible to the germs when they are exposed. Another influence, has to do with their environment at school and the close proximity they have with other children.

A few years ago, a group of microbiologists wanted to conduct an experiment to find out where germs were most commonly found in schools. They took a number of bacterial samples from many of the common surfaces that kids come in contact with every day . What they found was not only gross, but incredibly eye opening.

The following table highlights the surfaces where the most germs were found. The number represents the total Aerobic Bacteria found per Square Inch on each of the items tested.

The study found that there were actually more germs found on an average classroom water fountain than there were on a toilet seat.

I told you it was incredibly gross!

Hold off buying the bubble wrap for your family just yet. Instead, try a few of these practical tips to help keep the yuck away from your house.

Nothing Beats Good Hand Washing Practices
The bad news is that those pesky little germs can live on hard surfaces for up to 2 days, but the good news is that good hand washing habits can go a really long way to helping keep you and your family well. We all wash our hands, but truth be told most of us are NOT doing it properly and thoroughly, enough! So here is a crash course in the proper technique.

Wet your hands, remove your hands from under the water, and apply soap.

Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

Just Say No to Sharing
We teach our kids not to share their drinks or their food, but often there are a few things that we forget to just say no to sharing. Things like earbuds and lip gloss should be touched by the least amount of people possible. Not only can sharing cosmetics potentially spread unwanted rashes and other skin irritations, but it can also be a potential germ risk. School supplies are another germ transfer possibility. Be sure that your child has a well stocked pencil box. (Even spring for the mechanical pencils, to save them from having to touch the germy pencil sharpener)

Pack All The Sanitizer
Even though, I highly recommend a crash course with your kids on proper hand washing techniques and practices, they are still kids after all. Set them up for success by stocking their backpacks, lunch boxes, and sports equipment bags with ALL.THE.Sanitizer. I highly recommend Young Living’s Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier . This product purifies and cleans hands with all natural and plant based ingredients. No harsh chemicals that will dry or irritate your skin. Set your kids up for success! If you would like to make your own hand purifier, try our recipe here.

Boost Immunity From The Inside Out
Proper sleep, nutrition, hydration, and exercise are important parts of keeping immunities boosted. I also highly recommend a few other very helpful products.

Thieves Essential Oil– Mix up a roller bottle with Thieves essential oil and your favorite carrier oil and roll every member of your family on their way out the door. If you can, make sure that each member has their own roller for their briefcase and backpack to reapply during the day. (Don’t have Thieves? Start Here to see how to start building your oily tool kit)

Immupro– ImmuPro combines ingredients such as wolf berries, orange essential oil, and beta-glucan in a chewable tablet to support a healthy immune system. This product also contains calcium and zinc.

Let this be the year that you beat the statistics and keep the yuck away from your family. Armed with a little knowledge and a whole lot of essential oils and supplements and we all may make it out “yuck free”.

Have questions about any of the products mentioned, please use the contact me button on our menu to connect with me.